Help! Answer needed in next 10 minutes - would you take a 6yo to look around a maternity hospital?

[WideWebWitch]

Help! We're off to look around one tonight and I don't have anyone to look after 6yo ds. Should I take him or should I go alone and leave ds with dp? Haven't been to one (had ds at home) before will it be full of screaming women in labour do you think? In which case, I don't want to scare ds. I'm planning a home birth but want to be prepared just in case I end up going into hospital, which is why I'm looking. TIA for any views.

Durng my maternity hospital visitor we didn't see or hear anything of other people at all. Certainly nothing that would jump out at being upsetting for a child. Mind just the sight of the hospital got me going! I hadn't thought of the labour bit before then really.

Is dp planning on being at the labour? Does he want to see round? If so, then maybe DS will be okay anyway. If Dp doesn't mind it might be more useful for you to go alone so you can concentrate more.

Not much I am afraid here though.

Thanks CNR, think I'll take him and dp can take him out and meet me outside if it's scary/loud. Dp is going to be there in labour but I'm hoping not to need a hospital if pos.

Don't see why not www, just explain to him what happens there and why sometimes it helps the mummys to shout a bit when the babys come out. He's certainly old enough to understand and probably best to be honest.
Just my opinion though hth.

I would take him too www, if you are still here

I'd take him - is it too late?? hope it's nice. Last open evening I went to there were a few couples with kids.

Thanks everyone, just thought I'd let you know that I took him and he was a complete sweetie. He was also the only child there but it was fine. No screaming women at all, in fact it was eerily quiet. OK as hospitals go but still sincerely hoping I don't end up there.

I would definitely take him. IMO kids like to have a mental image of where you are when you are not at home. It reassures them. I took my dds when they were 8 and 11 when I was pregnant, and would have taken them had they been younger. Sorry only just read this thread so you will have done whatever you decided to do now.

sorry, posts crossed.